BUCKLEW, David K. (Buck)

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ Wednesday, January 11, 2011 David K. “Buck” Bucklew was born to Kenneth and Carrie Bucklew on Nov. 3, 1927 in Greenville, Ohio. He passed on Oct. 23 in Temple, Texas. David grew up and worked on the family farm until the age of 17. He enlisted in the Army in 1947 and served as a PFC in the 593D Signal Operation Company, specializing as a teletype operator and carbine expert. He received an Occupation Medal (Japan) and was wounded and later discharged in January of 1950. David also served during the Vietnam War. Upon returning home, he married Mary Rotondi in 1950 and they resided in Wooster, Ohio, where Kenneth and Peter were born. David graduated from a New York technical school and became a communication technician and traveled throughout the United States, settling down in Temple, Texas in 1962. David and Mary later divorced in 1968. He then moved out to Arizona to work on the farms. Traveling back to Michigan, he met Barbara Johnson in Wyman, and they married in July of 1970. David helped her raise her two boys Jerry and Anton (Tony), and later adopted Tony. They traveled back to Arizona where David worked at Martori Farms in Aguila, retiring and then working at the Aguila transfer station until the late 1990s. Barbara lost her life in 2000 to a long battle with breast cancer. In January of 2002, he married Betty Kelton of Montana. They resided during the winter months in Wenden, Ariz., and traveled back to Montana in 2003. David was a devoted Christian his entire life. He attended the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church in Wenden, and the Apostolic United Pentecostal Church in Palson, Mont. David was brought back to Temple, Texas, in September of 2010 where he was admitted to the V.A. and diagnosed with terminal cancer. Peter and his fianc/ Denise, along with Vista Care Hospice, took great care of him until his passing in October. David is survived by his third wife Betty Kelton; sons Kenneth, Peter, Jerry and Anton; eight grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; sisters Ruth, Jean, and Beatrice; brother Robert; and many nieces and nephews. David is preceded in death by his parents, brother Jim, first wife Mary and second wife Barbara. A graveside service with military honors will be held at the Eagle Eye Cemetery in Aguila Jan. 15 at 11 a.m.